Index
Join the
BC Nocturnal
Owl Survey
Datasheet Instructions
Note: If your route is more than 10 stops long, simply continue on with a second data sheet.
Route Name: The official name for your route; e.g. Meldrum Creek, Wheeler Mtn., etc. If you are doing a new route, contact coordinator to register route before conducting the census to ensure no-one else is covering that area already.
Day/Month/Year: Date in number format, e.g. Day 12/Month 3/Year 2000
Start Time: Time in 24-hour format, e.g. 1945; similarly for End Time at bottom of sheet.
Snow Depth: Estimated minimum and maximum snow depths encountered on survey, in centimetres, and estimated percent coverage of snow (e.g. 33, if lower two-thirds of route is snow-free).
Weather Conditions: Fill in as appropriate for conditions at START of survey; fill in similar section at bottom of sheet for conditions at END of survey.
Wind: Circle appropriate Beaufort Number (see table above).
Odometer: Kilometres (to nearest tenth) from start of survey
Species Codes: Write in the species code for each owl detected (i.e. if two Great Horned Owls are heard you would write down "GHOW" on two separate lines-see example sheet). Note that the Barred Owl code is different than usual to avoid possible confusion with Boreal Owl while interpreting field sheet scrawl!
NOTE: If your route is more than 10 stops long, simply continue on with a second data sheet.
Route Name: The official name for your route; e.g. Meldrum Creek, Wheeler Mtn., etc. If you are doing a new route, contact coordinator to register route before conducting the census to ensure no-one else is covering that area already.
Day/Month/Year: Date in number format, e.g. Day 12/Month 3/Year 2001
Start Time: Time in 24-hour format, e.g. 1945; similarly for End Time at bottom of sheet.
Snow Depth: Estimated minimum and maximum snow depths encountered on survey, in centimetres, and estimated percent coverage of snow (e.g. 33, if lower two-thirds of route is snow-free).
Weather Conditions: Fill in as appropriate for conditions at START of survey; fill in similar section at bottom of sheet for conditions at END of survey.
Wind: Circle appropriate Beaufort Number (see table above).
Odometer: Kilometres (to nearest tenth) from start of survey.
Species Codes: Write in the species code for each owl detected (i.e. if two Great Horned Owls are heard you would write down "GHOW" on two separate lines-see example sheet). Note that the Barred Owl code is different than usual to avoid possible confusion with Boreal Owl while interpreting field sheet scrawl! If you see or hear owls at points other than regular stops, you may note them in the comments section but do not put them in the regular stop boxes.
BNOW Barn Owl FLOW Flammulated Owl WESO Western Screech-Owl GHOW Great Horned Owl NHOW Northern Hawk Owl NPOW Northern Pygmy-Owl BUOW Burrowing Owl BARR Barred Owl SPOW Spotted Owl GGOW Great Gray Owl LEOW Long-eared Owl SEOW Short-eared Owl BOOW Boreal Owl NSOW Northern Saw-whet Owl RUGR Ruffed Grouse BLGR Blue Grouse SPGR Spruce Grouse Time Intervals: Put a check mark under the appropriate time intervals to indicate when the owl or grouse was heard. If it was calling throughout the stop, place check marks in both boxes.
Distance and Direction: Estimate the distance in metres and the direction (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) of any owl heard, e.g. 300 m NW.
Traffic count: A simple tally of motor vehicles that pass by during the stop.
Moon: Yes or no depending on whether it was visible from stop.
Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Some noise (e.g. dogs or coyotes barking in distance), but not distracting
- Significant noise that may have reduced owl detectibility (e.g. traffic)
- Constant noise, e.g. heavy traffic, roaring creek.
Comments/Mammals seen: any short comments you think would help us interpret the survey results and a list of mammals seen, even those between stops. Please identify mammals as best you can, e.g. "mouse" is acceptable, but "vole" or "deer mouse" or even "red-backed vole" is preferred .
If you have any questions, phone 1-250-496-4049
or email dickcannings@shaw.caPlease send completed data sheets to:
Dick Cannings
BC Programs Manager
Bird Studies Canada
S11, C96, RR#1
1330 Debeck Road
Naramata, BC, V0H 1N0
Return to Top of Page
Return to Previous Page
The Organization International Programs National Programs
Regional Programs
Long Point Bird
Observatory Programs Join BSC Web Site
Map